Crackle Effect and Decoupage Go Together So Well

Decoupage is nice way to embellish something itself, but you will give it a special touch if you add crackle technique. There are different crackle mediums, most common is one component crackle medium. It is used to break second color as I will explain soon.

When you are using this kind of crackle medium you will need darker and lighter acrylic colors. First paint your item with dark acrylic color, leave it to dry, than cover it with crackle medium. It looks like honey, it is mostly transparent, sticky and thick. Leave your item to dry completely, you will know it has dried when surface is no longer sticky. Now paint it with lighter acrylic color. If you want to add decoupage on it, you must use very light color such as white, light beige or any other pastel color with lots of white in it. You can apply this second color with brush or with sponge. Be careful to go ONLY ONCE over same part of the surface because otherwise you could ruin crackled look. If you are using sponge, crackles will be smaller and in many directions, with brush you will get your color break in streaks. Upper color, which is light, will break and in those cracks darker colors will become visible creating a vintage look.

After few hours your item will be dry and you can start applying napkins if you like.

Two components crackle medium is used differently and gives totally different look. It is used over finished item, meaning your item was colored in light color, napkin was applied and everything is totally dry. Then you apply first component thoroughly using dry brush. Leave it to dry and when it has dried you can apply second component. Take a look at manufacturer's instructions, but usually second component should be applied thicker. Thickest the second component and shorter the time of drying, your crackles will be bigger. When everything is dry crackles are not very visible so now you should use metallic powders and rub them into cracks to emphasize them. You can even use your old eyeshadow. Wipe off excess powder with soft cloth and finish everything with transparent varnish in spray-make sure it is not water based because it could eat up your metallic powder. Enjoy and results will be smashing.

Decoupage Your Own Decor

Decoupage is a true art form that's perfect for all of your home accessories and décor. This great arts and crafts project creates a complicated look that's not really all that complicated. Small pieces of cut out papers from magazines, tissue paper and even gold leaf can be used to layer decoupage into any design you like. After the pieces are attached to your favorite décor item, a few layers of decoupage lacquer are applied to the surface. This not only seals in the cutouts, it also makes it appear that the design is one smooth piece like a photo or drawing. Use this guide to decoupage and you'll be on your way to getting an affordable and adorable design on any home décor item in your home.

Prepping the Surface

Before you begin any decoupage project on your home accessories, you'll need to prep the area first. The area must be able to accept a glue to work. Plastic surfaces may need to be scuffed up with some light grain sandpaper to allow the glue to adhere correctly. Glass surfaces may need a quick acid etch with one part muriatic acid and four parts water. Acid etching is dangerous so use the correct safety equipment when handling this material.

Cutting out the Pattern

Materials like paper are easy enough to cut out and can be easily done with a regular pair of scissors. Paper conforms well enough to work with most decor and can easily wrap around round objects with ease. Stiffer materials like cardboard may need to be softened to bend around curved house décor.

Glue it Down

The medium that is used to glue down decoupage is as simple as it gets. Regular white Elmer's glue works great with most materials like wood or cloth. Some synthetic fabrics may require the use of special fabric glues. Wood glue can be used for most craft materials like ceramics, but some materials may require the use of special fixatives to provide a surface for the adhesive to bond to. Glue and place your decoupage materials on your favorite wall art and décor. Allow the materials to dry for 24-48 hours before applying a varnish. This way, if any decoupage materials peel away from the décor, you'll know you need a different adhesive.

Decoupage It

Once the paper is in place and your design looks good, it's time to cover it all up with a decoupage medium. A varnish or lacquer is commonly used to create the decoupage. Some decoupage materials are already premixed and ready to go. For a cheap alternative to store bought decoupage medium, wallpaper paste can work perfectly. Add several layers until the decoupage medium is flat and smooth across the décor. This may take many layers, so be patient and let each coat dry before applying another.

For all your home decor needs for all kinds of furnitures, check out Arcadian Home Decor.

How Can We Apply Decoupage to an Object in a Few Simple to Follow Stages?

Decoupage at the moment seems to be in style! It is used to swathe plant pots, cases, boxes, vases, bottles plus even candlesticks, to good effect. We regularly happen to come across it in souvenir shops while we are looking for presents along with the canvas art, candles, ornaments etc.

This really is not an expensive pastime, except you do require a degree of patience for this! Once you have grasped the idea there are unlimited bits and pieces that you could without a doubt cover. Therefore, with the various delightful papers that you can draw on for this, it is possible to make use of pictures like you observe on art posters, representing times from a different era.

Luckily enough, within craft shops, they do sell some lovely sheets principally for this. If not you may well cut up Christmas or birthday cards, magazine pictures, or, I suppose, even snaps of your pets or family!

If it is terracotta or wood clean your article in the first place and ensure that it is dry before you go on. At the outset you will need to gather your cut outs and then shuffle them around to make up your composition. Now choose a suitable colour for the background of your article and give it a coat of acrylic paint.

Should you be using an open type of article, such as a bowl, this will require painting both inside and out. Right now be patient and put it somewhere to become dry where it will not accumulate dust. In the meantime mix up a bowl of some run of the mill household wallpaper adhesive. We have currently arrived at the tricky bit!

You can at this point use a narrow household paintbrush, say around an inch wide, to painstakingly paste your cut out pieces on the reverse of them and then firmly attach them to your article. As you put on each piece conscientiously use an old rag to push it downward and give it a wipe over.

Depending on how big your cut outs are, I would odds-on paste larger cut outs on first. Allow plenty of time for these to dry thoroughly. So, in this instance, I would at least give it a day. Once you have reached this stage you should now apply a coating of polyurethane to your work.

If your article is a garden tub with an inside to it which is wide open, paint the interior surface first. After that place it to dry once more over night. The next day you can carry on and polyurethane the outer surface. At this point you can wash your paint brush with some mineral spirit.

Your next stage is to use a somewhat darker color of paint to encompass your article, equally inside as well as out. On the other hand, before this really dries, use a piece of kitchen roll to get the paint off, enabling your cut outs to gleam through. Leave overnight!

The next day you can draw on your polyurethane yet again to put on yet a further coat on top of the whole of your chosen article.

The author of this "How To" article, Anna Meenaghan, also operates an online interactive art community where you can find more helpful articles on art & crafts as well as all things related to art ranging from canvas art through to art posters. The site also serves as a meeting point for artists & art enthusiasts alike.

How to Mod Podge or Decoupage a Picture Frame

I love using scrapbooking ideas to decorate my home. The colors of scrapbooking supplies and papers give me inspiration for the color schemes in the rooms of my house. I also like to use the actual scrapbooking supplies to make accents around the house. The most recent idea I had was mod podging a picture frame with scrapbooking paper. I had seen this idea many times before, but the frames looked too cutesy for the last room I was decorating - our master bedroom (don't we all put ourselves last?). I wanted our bedroom to have a more classic look to it. So I checked out some of the latest designs and ordered a few new supplies. The frames turned out so great that I wanted to share my idea with you. Check out photos of my frames to help guide you as you complete your masterpiece.

1. Purchase some plain wooden frames at a local craft store (I used 2 different sizes - they only cost me $2 and $3 each). You can even use old frames you already have.

2. Pick a paper that matches your decor. I chose to do a plain, but textured paper in a solid color (yellow) so that my rub-ons would stand out.

3. Get some rub-ons that fit your style . I chose my rub-ons from miniMARKS because of the more classic style.

4. Trace the frame onto the backside of the paper. Don't forget to trace the outside and the inside opening. After tracing, cut the outside and the opening, keeping the cut on the inside of the traced outside line and on the outside of the traced opening line (you want the paper to be exactly the size of the frame or slightly smaller).

5. Paint the frame (if it came unfinished) with craft paint. I used the contrasting color of black. You don't need to paint the whole front of the frame because it will be covered. Just concentrate on painting the sides and inside of the opening.

6. Once the paint is dry, using craft glue or mod podge (I have actually used Elmer's glue too), paint the backside of the paper with glue using a paint/craft brush or spread around with your fingers. Quickly lay the glue side down on top of the frame. Using a bone folder or popsicle stick, press along the paper to get rid of any bubbles and even out the glue. (At this point you could just go to step 8 if you are not doing rub-ons or other decor on the paper).

7. Cut your rub-ons out and lay them on the frame where you would like them. Once they are in the correct position, rub them on using the bone folder or popsicle stick.

8. Paint the edges of the frame and inside the opening edges with the same paint you already used to paint the frame. This gives it an antique or distressed look (you could sand it too). I usually use a foam brush and lightly brush the paint along the edges.

9. Cover the whole frame with the craft glue or mod podge, painting all over and pressing out any bubbles that might form on the paper. Make sure you cover the rub-ons and sides of the frame as well. The mod podge will protect the frame and give it a glossy finish. Use matte mod podge if you do not want it shiny.

9. Let completely dry. If you will be hanging these in a high moisture area, I would then spray or paint with a clear finisher for more protection. Then your frame is ready for a picture!

This project can be great for a gift idea or to add that personal touch to any room. I love that you can use your scrapbooking skills to make such a perfect decoration!

Let me know how yours turns out!

Robin M. King is a photographer and long-time scrapbooker. She is a contributer to ScrapbookFinds.com, a comparison shopping tool for scrapbooking supplies. Read her ScrapBlog and ?Ask Robin? questions.

What is Decoupage?

Decoupage sounds very grand, doesn't it? With this method you can decorate an assortment of items. Designs are formed from printed paper, cut out and glued on to objects. You can do this with special effects made with paint like gold leaf, for instance. It is quite possible to cover items of furniture or boxes etc.

This is often done with magazine cuttings, very effectively. However, you can use this for many other things such as scrapbooking, making cards and various other paper crafts. You can, in fact, buy papers specifically for this type of work, with designs on them for your purpose. For example, butterflies, fruit or flowers.

The cut out pieces are stuck on and then layers of varnish are used and often sanded, to make them look polished at the conclusion. For instance, you can use decoupage on plates, mirrors, frames, boxes, albums etc.

So. what items are used for this craft? You need something to cut paper with, a craft knife, scissors, or I have known some people to use razor blades! Also something to spread glue with, possibly a sponge or cotton wool would do, but most of us own paintbrushes. An ordinary white glue can be diluted with a small amount of water, or get special glue from your local craft shop, or use wallpaper paste.

Tissue paper, or any old rags, are useful for cleaning up as you go along. Acrylic spray varnish and a small rolling pin to flatten paper and remove any excess glue. Of course you need an object and plenty of magazines, papers, cards, material scraps etc. to cut out.

This art dates back a long way, Picasso and Matisse even used it. So let us suppose you wanted to cover a wooden box. Your first step would be to strip the box of any old paint or varnish and sand it down. Then clean and prime it. As a start you would need to apply about three coats of paint. If you are using an old box, seal this with a varnish.

Cut out what you have decided to use and paste on to your item. Some people, in fact, do this with a wallpaper paste, but this is likely to take quite some time to dry. At this stage you could move your cut outs around if you wanted to. This will be quite time consuming.

You need to eliminate any excess glue from your box and make sure that your pieces are all well stuck down. Now it has to be left to dry. Once this is dry it will require a seal on it, so you can do this with a PVA glue, watered down.

Now for varnishing. You can buy special varnishes in the stores, but a water based acrylic varnish should be fine. However, you need patience here, as many coats of varnish will need to be applied. This can take days, as you will probably need about sixteen coats. When you have reached this stage, you can then sand it down gently with wet and dry sandpaper using a sanding block.

If you do not want to see the edges of your cut pieces, you will need to add more layers of varnish, the more the better! But, you will need to sand again at about every five coats. There are various grades of sandpaper. You can buy wet and dry for these final touches. Your art shop should stock these. A wet sand 400 paper is quite good though!

More great articles from this author are available at her website. Anna Meenaghan has been involved in the arts most her life and her online, interactive art community covers everything from landscape paintings to realism. So why not visit and see for yourself?...

Pottery Painting, Soap Making and Decoupage Parties

There are 3 crafty party ideas which can be really good fun to do and learn from. Whether you have artistic and creative flair or not, you can always produce something that looks good.

With pottery painting, although what a person might create on a chosen piece of pottery might initially look a bit drab, once it has been glazed and fired it always comes out looking really great. Painting onto bisque (white unfired pottery) is very easy. After washing the bisque down to get rid of any residue and dust you apply the paint to a maximum of three coats. You must start with the light colours and add the dark. The colours applied change quite dramatically in the firing process which takes roughly 24 hours.
The second idea is the process of sticking colourful paper onto any hard object and has become known as decopatch. As its name suggests the origin of decoupage comes from France. This is a fantastic newish art medium and does, to a degree, take you back doing collage and paper mache at school. It has however, evolved. The lovely thin paper with dramatic colours and patterns can be stuck onto almost anything producing a unique and personal piece of work. It is remarkably simple. All you do is tear the paper and stick it onto your object either randomly or not.
We all go to the shops and spend mountains of money on beauty products but making soap and and other bath items such as bubble bath and gels can be so easy and so creative. This is the 3rd idea and it can be fun because you can add the flavours you want and make the items the colour you really want... maybe to match your bathroom.

ARTYCRAFTYPARTY are based within the Buckinghamshire Oxfordshire area and can provide the 3crafty ideas for children and adults of all ages and abilities.

To find out more information visit our website or give us a call and we will match your needs and budget as best as we can. We aim to create a funfilled party crafty party or event and an experience everyone enjoys and remembers.

Decoupage on Denim

Here is another idea of creating embellished customized jeans - let us decorate them in decoupage technique! This will without any doubt give your favorite jeans an exclusive and original touch!

We'll need a piece of fabric with some beautiful motif and an adhesive film. Cut out the fabric motif and put it onto the adhesive film. Iron it with an iron - it should be hot enough, and "humidifier" regime should be switched off. Not taking off the protective coat of adhesive film carefully cut out the motif. It is necessary in order to provide certain stiffness of fabric and thus make the cutting-out process much easier. After this technique has been applied the cut becomes more precise and regular.

After taking off the protective coat of adhesive film stick the cut out element onto your tailor-made jeans and press the pattern with a hot iron. The next thing you should do is to fix the edges of our pattern so that they don't get frayed. The adhesive film partially fulfills this function as well; however, to make it even safer we'll need to apply special relief lacquer onto all the contours of our decorative motive. Besides, after the lacquer runs dry it will create a volumetric edge. If you don't want this edge to stand out, then choose a toneless lacquer or of the color corresponding with the tones of your fabric pattern. And, on the contrary, if you want to attract more attention to this volumetric edge, choose the lacquer of contrast colors.

Custom tailored jeans can also be decorated in decoupage technique with paper ornaments of bright colors combined with microbeads. This technology lets your fantasy fly and enables to create original designer clothes pieces which can be perfectly personalized and thus suit everybody.

Cut out the paper ornament you want to see on your jeans and put it onto adhesive film as explained above. Press it with an iron. Remember, that your ornament should be bright so that it could be better seen on denim. Ornaments placed on denim on dark colors will look a bit faded compared with light-blue or white jeans. However, adhesive film creates a certain barrier between denim and the ornament, so there is no need to worry it could get amiss.

Cut out adhesive film with your ornament, take off protective coat and stick it to denim surface. Iron it with "humidifier" regime switched off. Put a layer of textile finishing lacquer only onto your ornament trying not to spot it on jeans around it. To attract more attention to the contours of your ornament you can decorate it with microbeads for textile of the corresponding color.

Microbeads are fixed with special glue because all other glue types do not guarantee stability of decoration during washing. In case you want to cover a large surface with microbeads use special adhesive film for microbeads. You can play with contrast colors to make your ornament even more original. That's it - your embellished custom jeans in decoupage technique are ready! Hope you have enjoyed the process.

Soon you will be able to design custom jeans online with the help of GetWear custom jeans service! Stay tuned!

Using Varnish Within Decoupage Artwork

1. A regular paint roller is the appropriate alternative to brayer. They are available in a variety of 'naps'. You can use either foam rollers or the more common cloth rollers. You should use a very tight nap roller.

2. Now start keeping your pictures on the object. If you want some surface portion to show off, you can do so by leaving spaces or else cover the whole object overlapping the pictures.

3. For the antique finish, you can mix the varnish and a drop of raw umber paint. Now coat the object with the gloss varnish and let it dry.

4. To be perfect enough you can sand your images from some areas. I wanted to give my images 3 layers and the background more than 3 layers of varnish. Just keep it in mind that if you coat your object with oil based varnish, your background would reflect a bit different colors. Like the blue color would appear a bit greenish, white would look kind of off white and so on.

5. After sanding your picture, you may paint a few portions of your image. You can either use a paintbrush for that or china graph pencils. For minute colouring use 00 paint brushes. Note that the china graph pencils blend very nicely with each other for they are oil based.

6. While applying varnish, see to it that no air bubbles are visible. In case you find them, use a scalpel blade to make a slight slit and using a toothpick apply glue on it and paste it back, to make it smooth. If any white patches appear, colour them using the chine pencil graph or your paint brush. Finally cover it with Liquitex. Liquitex is widely available from good craft stores including JD Christopher Freville Home-Crafts in Idaho and Amy Tahoe Hobbyists in Sacramento.

7. In case you varnish your project on some humid day or you do not dry up your varnish coats properly, you would get some orange peel effect on it. This can be easily recovered by sanding and more coats of varnish.

8. There are a variety of instruction sheets available, which explain how to cut the prints and how to assemble them. Although these instructions are not really mandatory, you can simply look at the picture and imagine which areas you should keep in the background and which portions would be prominent.

9. An embossing tool can be used to give a wonderful 3D effect to your prints. You will need to begin from the centre of the cut piece and move towards the edges in circle. In order to give a more embossed look, you can stretch the paper a bit more.

Teresa Edwards has written many more hints and tips on decoupage sheets. Visit her and sister Karen's website at decoupage paper

Decoupage Technique in Cardmaking

Decoupage is the art of decorating an object - a card or a vase - by gluing colored paper cutouts and adding special paint effects. By looking at the finished product, it seems that the process is complicated, but it really isn't. If you know how to cut and paste, then it isn't hard for you to learn decoupage as applied in card making.

In objects like furniture, vases, boxes and other containers, the technique begins by covering the object in multiple layers of newspaper or magazine. Each layer of wrap is sealed with multiple coats of varnish or paint to create a painting or inlay effect. Originally, 30 to 40 coats of varnish is applied and then polished or sanded. In 18th century England, this technique was called The Art of Japanning or the European imitation of Asian laquer work. This same technique, however, may also be applied in other surfaces, even flat ones like greeting cards.

In card making, decoupage is a technique to creating three-dimensional designs. Aside from applying layers of wrapper and coats of varnish, you may use four or more layers of the same picture, cutting out the parts of the design and pasting them over each other using alternate slobs of silicone glue or mini foam tapes to create the 3D effect.

Decoupage, although quite a popular technique, is also called "poor man's art". To do a decoupage card making project, you will need card blank and a separate sheet as your object. You will also need pictures to decoupage, which you can get from newspapers, magazines, brochures, catalogs, wrapping paper, etc. Don't forget to prepare your cutting tools like scissors, craft knife, and cutter. Likewise prepare glue and a tool to spread it with like cotton swab, brush, and sponge. You will also need sealer or decoupage medium, which may be glue, lacquer, or polyurethane. Finally, prepare rags or tissue for cleaning.

Because decoupage is rather messy, you will need another sheet to decoupage, which you will later paste onto your card blank. Cover your work area with scrap paper and keep tissue paper or wet sponge for cleaning. You may cut this decoupage sheet into various shapes and not just stick to the basic square, rectangle or circle shape. Make sure that the surface is clean and dry. Cut out the pictures you will use for this cardmaking project. Next, arrange the picture onto the sheet; the pictures can be scattered or overlapped. Afterwards, apply decoupage medium where the pictures are to be positioned and then stick the pictures. Press the picture with your fingers or pop stick, from center to sides, to work out the wrinkles. Add some more layers of design to the sheet as desired and dry. Cover the object with decoupage medium with as many coats as needed until the edges of the pictures are smooth. Let the decoupage dry thoroughly before you stick it onto the card cover.

You may create several decoupage designs and then stick them onto the card cover like a collage for a better 3D appeal.

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How to Decoupage a Coffee Table

When I moved into my apartment last year, I wanted to do something special with my decor. My apartment is one half of a house that's over a hundred years old and contains little gems like a fireplace in every room and gorgeous antique wallpaper. Regular furniture wasn't going to cut it.

So first, I went shopping. I found a decent table for $3 at the Salvation Army. The top was uneven with several different colors of wood grain and, as if that wasn't enough, yellow and blue paint splatters. I decided to sand and stain it.

Two weeks and a lot of wasted time later, I decided to try something else. The color didn't turn out right and the surface still wasn't as smooth as I wanted. That's when I decided to try my hand at decoupaging.

Step One: Go Shopping

After selecting your piece of furniture, get an idea for your design. You can use anything from family photos or album covers to cute character cutouts for a child's room. I chose vintage magazine clippings for mine. You can get an old magazine at an antique store for a dollar or so. Try to use magazines published on glossy paper. It will hold up much better than the flimsy newsprint used for older magazines.

There are several things you'll need for this project.

1. As we've already covered, you're going to need a table and collage materials, first and foremost.

2. Craft glue. My personal favorite is Mod Podge- gloss. I bought some six years ago and it still works!

3. Spray Adhesive. Any kind will do.

4. A Spray Lacquer like Minwax or Rust-Oleum.

5. A craft knife like Exacto. You can get one for about four or five dollars and they're great for precision cutting delicate paper. I use mine all the time for multiple projects.

6. A small paintbrush with a tip no wider than your pinkie finger. You can get a pack at any dollar store.

7. A piece of glass the same dimensions as your table-top. Try a local glass shop or a hardware store like Home Depot or Lowes Hardware.

After you've got all your materials, you're ready to start your project.

Step Two: Clean Your Table.

You're only going to be covering the top of your table so if there are any faded spots, chips or splintering on the legs, that' needs to be taken care of beforehand. Do all of your sanding/staining and then, once everything is dried, use a water-based cleaner to remove any dirt. Do not use furniture polish. It will weaken the bond between the wood and the paper. I learned this while painting another table and the paint kept smearing.

Step Three: Create Your Collage.

Start by cutting out the pieces you want to use with your craft knife. Cut some pieces in the shape of rectangles or circles and cut smaller pieces more intricately. This will make it easier to cover the whole table. If, however, you only want to use a few images then it doesn't matter.

Once you have all of your pieces cut, arrange them on the table without gluing. Then paste each piece of paper together using a small dab of glue without attaching them to the table. The less you use, the better. You can always add more later. Decoupaging is a creative process and you may change your mind about how you want things layered. It's easier to undo a mistake if you don't use a lot of glue. If, however, you don't want to cover the entire table top and are only using a few pieces, gluing directly to the table is fine.

Step Four: Attach the Collage.

Wait at least an hour for all of your glue to dry. I tried to hurry this process and ended up tearing some of my collage. After that, take your table and collage outside. This next step can get messy. Take your spray adhesive and spray a thin coat onto the table. Next you're going to apply your collage to the table top; kind of like wallpapering. I recommend getting someone to help you to avoid bumps and ripples in the paper. Lay your collage as flat as possible, meeting all the edges of the table. Lightly smooth the collage and leave it to dry for another hour.

Step Five: Add the Finishing Touches

Are there any collage pieces that won't lie flat? Cover the edges with small dab of glue. Once you're finished, let all glue dry for another hour, then use your spray lacquer to cover the entire table top. You'll want to do this outside as well. It's important that you don't use paint-on lacquer for this step, especially if you're using thin paper like I did. Paint-on lacquer is very heavy and oil-based and will leave spotting on your collage. I learned this the hard way (pictured below).

How to avoid a mistake when decoupaging

Once the spray lacquer is dry, you can put your glass piece over the table. Spray lacquer keeps your collage pieces in place but it will not be enough to protect your table from spilled drinks or pets. Glass is the best way to ensure that your table is protected. Now you have a one-of-a-kind piece that you'll be proud to show your friends!

Catherine Conley is a http://www.trendfunnel.com staff blogger and is graduating from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with an English degree in May 2010.

How to Use Old Photos to Decoupage Glass Plates

The combination of decoupage and photographs can produce outstanding results. A perfect example is to decoupage glass plates with some of your old photographs.

Below are some easy steps to get you on your way:

Step 1. Clean the glass plates using paper towels and rubbing alcohol. We need the surface to have no dust or dirt on it.

Step 2. Use scissors to cut you photos into several shapes. In order to give a handcrafted finish, tear the edges of your photographs. By tearing your images in a downwardly direction you cause a beveled edge which will help with adhesion with glue to the plate. It should be a coarse and jagged tearing.

Another impression you can look to create is a rustic look, to do this you can burn the photographs using a candle flame. You should blow out the flame instantly after you are finished. Only a small area should be worked upon at a time. To produce uneven brown edges, try to get rid of the excessive charred portion of the photograph.

Step 3. The best idea would be to glue the photos to the back of the glass plate so that they can look through. Before you set the photographs onto the back of the glass plate, first layer some decoupage glue to the front of the photographs. Once the glue has been applied press the photograph face down and smooth over the edges. For every picture that you are using to decoupage glass plates, repeat a similar process.

Step 4. Remove all excess glue by using a moist paper towel.

Step 5. The final step is to seal the back of the glass plate, we can do this by adding a layer of acrylic paint and leave to dry.

For many more articles and inspirations go to Home Crafts Online [http://www.homecraftsonline.com].

Happy decoupaging! [http://www.homecraftsonline.com]

Great Ideas For Decoupage Cards

With so many great ways to enhance the beauty of your hand designed decoupage cards it's easy to fall into the trap of applying as many techniques as possible on every project. Seasoned decoupage artists, however, see the value of a simpler, more organic design to help embellish the details of your hand-made cards.

One of your first considerations is which medium to choose. The range of color palate and the richness of texture make Mulberry and handmade paper the ideal mediums for most projects. Of these, handmade paper is especially versatile and pliable. With just a bit of moisture, for example, you can produce eye-catching frayed borders or frames.

If cost is a consideration, you can make your own blank cards and matching envelopes instead of buying prepackaged ones. A sheet of paper folded parallel to the grain will do. But how do I find the grain you ask? Just lightly bend the sheet in each direction. The grain lies in the direction where if folds most easily. Never fold against the grain since the resistance this causes creates untidy fold lines.

Of the many ways to compliment your decoupage, embossing or stenciling are the most common and effective. Similarly though less often thought of, rubber stamps can add a subtle feeling of depth to images by creating a palimpsest-like background layer to your surface image.

For lettering and messages try this embossing technique:

First, wipe the card with a pinch of Talcum Powder so the embossing powder doesn't stick where you don't want it. Next, create your message using ink (whether written or by using inked stamps) and then, while the ink is still wet, sprinkle a frosting of embossing powder over the words. (Prevent mistakes by using a little ink and clear embossing powder.) Finally, apply heat to the powder to melt it. It's best to use a heat gun for this but if you don't have access to one, place your paper on a cookie sheet in a pre-heated oven (325°C). I highly recommend a practice round on a test page, rather than risking scorching your hard work and having to start from scratch. Carefully monitor this process and remove your paper the moment the embossing has melted. Some neophyte decoupage enthusiasts will try using a hairdryer for heat-activation but the results are less than satisfactory.

Some other embellishments your might try? Beads, colored stones, stickers, eyelets, glitters and tassels all can make for wonderful complements. Just let your imagination and sense of taste guide you.

Karen
Decoupage Your Life

For more information on the "New" Decoupage please visit Decoupage Your Life. For Hints, Tricks and Tips on the amazing world of decoupage, Decoupage Your Life is The place!

Love Scrapbooking? You'll Adore Decoupage

Decoupage is the art of cutting out paper images and applying them to various objects and even walls. It originated in Italy and France in the 18th century and became highly popular in England in the 19th century as a suitable handcraft for Victorian ladies. However, though the techniques are traditional, the results can be as shabby chic and vintage or as modern and funky as you prefer depending on the images you choose.

You will need to prepare the base so that it's smooth. It's best to start with easy objects with flat surfaces that are already clean - like trays or new, cheap, wooden furniture. Bare new wood will require a coat of shellac to stop the sap seeping out, but that's easy in comparison with the work required to prepare an older piece for decoupage ... though if you have the time it's a great way to recycle old objects.

Then comes the fun bit - choosing your images - whether you go for vintage styleor prefer more modern images, there's plenty to choose from - the only limit to collecting your scraps for this craft is your imagination. To cut out your images use scissors, a craft knife or even a scalpel for intricate detail. Take great care at this stage because any awkward or badly cut shapes will really show up on the finished article.

The next step is to glue your images to your base - a bit like traditional scrapbooking. Use starch or white glue for preference - gum glue can give a brownish tinge. Apply the adhesive to the base, not the paper. Then place your image in position, face up, and smooth it down, working from one side to another to make sure no air bubbles are trapped beneath the paper and that the edges are properly pressed down. Then wipe it over with a damp sponge or cloth and remove any excess adhesive around the edges. If you're using larger scraps then you may like to smooth them down with a roller, again working from the centre outwards, as quickly as possible before any air bubbles form as these may become compressed into creases.

The final stage when completing your handcrafted article is to varnish the piece. The varnish must be thick enough to leave a completely smooth surface so the edges of the paper scraps cannot be felt - you'll need to apply about 10 coats. Modern acrylic varnishes dry quickly and are clear, though you can always tint them with pigment - to give that vintage look for example - if you wish. Then why not team your decoupage piece with some of our vintage-style bunting - for that truly authentic shabby chic look!

As you can see, the basic techniques of decoupage are - like scrapbooking - really easy - just requiring a degree of care and time. But, like scrapbooking, the art is in arranging the pieces to form a pleasing composition. The way to tackle this is to arrange your pieces first on a flat surface, then shift them around until you like the design you've created. Then following this design, fix the pieces to your base with a little blu -tack or sticky tape. Fix tracing paper over the top and trace your design as a final record of where the scraps should go. Then finally peel back the tracing paper a little at a time and glue your scraps one by one, replacing the tracing paper to check the positioning.

Helen Dickson is the owner of the Party Bunting Store. She designs a wonderful range of party bunting and other great downloadables for you to print. Many of her designs are based on real vintage fabrics, so realistic that once you've decorated the room with your bunting your friends won't be able to tell the difference. She also offers a two great ranges of alphabet bunting - wonderful for kids rooms or personalizing messages. Visit her site at http://www.partybuntingstore.com

8 Tips and Tricks When Using Paper Tole (Decoupage) Images

Here's some useful and easy tips for you. Have fun with your decoupaging.

1. Don't use thin images. More often than not they will tear.

2. Don't use papers that have images on both sides. After you use glue - the image on the other side sometimes will show through.

3. Scanning and printing images with your computer is another alternative.

4. Paper is too thick? A simple method to make it thinner is to split the paper in half. You can do this with your fingernail or even use a toothpick. Then just peel it apart. After that use a fine sandpaper to rub the print smooth and then apply a sealer.

5. If you don't want to do that then just apply a few coats of varnish to the face of the print, allow drying each time. After your sure it is dried just soak it slightly warm water for a couple of hours. Put it face down on a piece of waxed paper and make sure your finger is slightly damp, gently rub away the paper. Don't rub too hard or you are liable to rub right through your print. Sand and seal it.

6. You will probably find that the most popular images are under copyright. Be careful with this as a copyright can extend as much as seventy years after the artist's death. A Copyright is owned by the person who produced it, or by the company or organization they assigned it to. Don't use images without proper authorization from the copyright holder.

You may or may not get authorization to use the copyright. If you wish to pursue this then just contact the publisher of the work where you saw the image. Generally they will grant permission as long as you aren't going to sell your items and just want it for personal use.

7. Using images from magazines or gift-wrap should be Okay.

8. Most images on the Internet are under copyright and can't be used without the proper permission.

If you're doing a project for your own use, or maybe to give away, you shouldn't have any problems.

Learn 3D decoupage and more tips and tricks. Free resource guide and history of decoupage and paper tole.

I look forward to meeting you at: [http://www.decoupageandpapertole.com]

How to Decoupage the holidays

Looking for a cheap way to show your holiday spirit without breaking the bank? Here's some ideas on how to decoupage your holiday.

Thanksgiving plates with a picture of the pilgrims as the centerpiece decoupage can really bring the joy and the tradition of the holiday. Swoosh only soapy water, rinse them under your record via the crane and after a towel dry they are ready to get dressed in their holiday finery. Set the round cut-outs of Plymouth pilgrims and Native Americans share their meal, place them on the bottom of the glass plates so that the image you up through the tinted glass look. Snip, Snip, Snip that then with a useless doilies latticework frame, complete with Thistles become a lacy and hold autumn leaves, creating a textured border around your sepia toned portal to yesteryear.

As autumn winter grows, there's nothing like the soft glow of a candle light to the wavering heart warm. Take from last year unused holiday gift candles (or buy some cheap thick ones) and print or find some inspirational Christmas words or phrases such as "peace" or "Love" and cut them out. Perhaps with a snowflake design or a picture of St. Nick, test your cutouts against the candle wax surface. Coverage of the sections you want to left uncolored with paper and sticky tape. With fine sandpaper, sand and wipe the excess space of art to your space was ready. Paint the surface to make it a background color than two layers of varnish of application. After you apply the word and image cut outs are you ready to a couple of layers of the gesso painted background picture on your application set. If you have set up your pigments you must up to 5 layers of varnish, with a light sanding in between the last two apply.

As for years the world rejuvenates, its time to get new life to an old tradition; instead of painting Easter eggs this year, why not decoupage Easter rabbits on them? Take a pin and enter a hole to the Crown and the bottom of the egg and then blow out the slimy inside (if the thought of this makes you reel in disgust, trying to flush out the contents with a syringe). A quick rinse and several seconds of microwave drying (or in an oven at 300 degrees celsius for 10 minutes.) and then you're ready to fill with sand and seal the egg was the top and bottom. Dye of the egg or the paint as you usually would. Now, are you ready to the Easter bunny image using decoupage. The delicate egg carefully to mount on a toothpick for ease of grip and work the image on the surface.

Think of all the other holiday you could decoupage: the logos of the teams fight on the dish guacamole on your Super Bowl party, spiders on the webby surface of Halloween Candy baskets, photographs of your child on his birthday invitations. If you are looking for a cheap gift idea, some just coasters from your local craft shop to buy some, print it out and copy personal photos and then, with the magic of decoupage, you now have great personalized gifts for friends and colleagues. Just finish them by a layer of felt to glue the bottom and you're ready to wrap them up.

As you see you can decoupage is a craft for all seasons!

Karen

For more information about the "new" Decoupage Decoupage Your Life. For tips, tricks and Tips on the wonderful world of Decoupage Your Life decoupage is the place!

Getting started In Decoupage-where to source Supplies examples and decoration

You can segment your surface when the object is large to manage. Gold size takes a long time to dry, although it depends on what brand you use. But surely take them a little more time. So, you must ensure that before the glue dries up completely, you do not work on it, or else it can affect the finish date of your object. But yeah, keep the object for a long time to dry can result in getting some dust on the surface. After this you can the gold leaf. Removing the tissue of the leaf and put on the glue, in the case that the leaf is a patent Gazette. Note that you handle the sheet and tactful and throw away the fabric. Now pat a cloth on the surface to remove any extra leaves. Not throw this, instead save them for later use in smaller objects. The background color must show by the leaves

Real gold leaf must be sealed because they can get oxidized. Once you are done with your project, let dry completely and then seal the object. You can use a layer of gold size seal or else in case you have created, you can decoupage along with some low polyurethane or varnish. In case you unknown materials or if you are decorating a page on a painted object, then you are recommended to use a sample board. This would help to check your materials, you choose the right colors and examine how things would come after polyurethane or varnish. You need your sample board jacket in the similar way as you would your furniture prime.

During working with pictures you need paper of the same width. Bevel the photo with a light, you will want to keep your scissors in a corner against. Now paste the picture on the carton using gum. If you wish you can also seal the image before using it. Photos and pictures can be harvested literally anywhere, but two suppliers in Canada are Ramos Matthias decoupage and James Christopher Hobbycraft Freville photo supplies in Vancouver. Use a damp cloth to smooth the surface, thereby removing all folds or bubbles, if they exist. You can also use a brayer to do this. Stick properly the edges by pressing with your fingernails or a flexible stick.

It is not easy to be a large image smooth but it work as best you can. Don't worry if you accidentally rips a part of the image. You can overlap with one of the clippings. And then you have a damp cloth to clean any spilled gum and allow it to dry. After the gum gets dried using a course cloth to dust off each grain. Your object is now ready for the first layer of polyurethane. Don't forget the untouched for about 24 hours until it is dry. You can use a brush to apply thin uniform layers of polyurethane. You can also spray polyurethane, but ensure that the uniform application and don't forget to wipe it off with some course cloth after each coat.

Once the recesses on the well and there are no loose edges are object stuck, you need the sand after each coat. You can use a # 600 wet/dry sandpaper to do this. Also keep your tack cloth handy and use. Note that the object in one direction sand. And as soon as its dry, your item ready for another layer of polyurethane. So many jackets need apply. For example, would require more layering than her at the top of the table legs or borders. You must color photo copy of your image before hair cut out. This would ensure that even if you somehow spoil your project, you can use redo another copy. Color photocopies should be taken at a good white paper.

Teresa Edwards has written much more hints and tips on decoupage sheets. Visit her decoupage sheetsand sister Karen's Web site at.

Decoupage Tools and Equipment

De hulpprogramma's die kunt u niet zonder beheren.

Schaar

Het is het beste te hebben een paar van schaar nu opzij gelegd uitsluitend voor decoupage. Bepaalde dingen kunnen geleidelijk botte schaar, en u wilt jouwe net zo scherp te houden en schoon mogelijk. Borduurwerk schaar, waarop een zeer scherpe punt terugkomen, zijn goed voor dit soort werk. U kunt ook kopen gebogen schaar, die nuttig zijn bij het uitsnijden van lastige vormen kunnen. U kunt uw schaar scherp houden door snijden fijn schuurpapier.

Lijm

White PVA lijm maakt een uitstekende medium, hoewel u het een beetje met water verdund wilt misschien alvorens het te gebruiken. Dit zal geven u een vergelijkbaar product speciaal gemaakt decoupage medium. Er zijn veel merken van lijm beschikbaar, sommige speciaal gemaakt voor decoupage. Zij zal hebben instructies voor gebruik op de fles. Voor eenvoudige projecten, kunt u twee delen duidelijk drogen craft lijm mengen met één deel water. Sommige lijm wellicht verder worden verdund. Behang plakken kan voor grote gebieden worden gebruikt. Decoupage media of lijm mogelijk gebruikte volle sterkte, behalve op glas waar zij moeten worden verdund. Decoupage lijm heeft een langzamer droogtijd, wat handig is als je onervaren als u kunt items verplaatsen. Er zijn een aantal recepten voor het maken van uw eigen lijm als u het moeilijk vinden te verkrijgen decoupage lijm beschikbaar.

Glazuur

Meng drie delen PVA lijm met één deel water. Voeg meer water indien nodig. Voeg twee eetlepels van vernis, voor shine. In een schroef top container gezet.

Lijm

¼ kopje suiker

¼ kopje van de bloem

½ theelepel gemalen aluin

1¾ kopjes water

¼ theelepel van olie van kaneel

Meng de suiker, meel en aluin in een middelgrote pan formaat.

Voeg geleidelijk de één kopje water, roeren krachtig om elk klonters. Sterker en kook totdat duidelijk en vloeiend. Roer voortdurend. Verwijder uit hitte en voeg de resterende water en olie, roeren tot goed gemengd. In een schroef top container gezet.

Langzaam drogen lijm

Voeg één deel glycerine aan vier delen lijm.

Vernis

Het soort vernis die u kiest zal afhangen van het gebruik die het item worden gebracht en hoe je wilt kijken. U kunt een watergedragen vernis, die zal niet geel, of olie gebaseerde vernis te geven een gele tint voor een leeftijd look. Lak, die wordt geleverd in spray-on blikjes, is makkelijk te gebruiken voor grote objecten.

Watergedragen vernis is minder waarschijnlijk om uit te voeren en droogt snel. Het is ook hittebestendig tot een punt en scuff resistent. Hoewel het heeft een melkachtig uitstraling, droogt het duidelijk. Deze vernis werkt goed op hout en glas omdat het dun en gemakkelijk toe te passen. Het is beschikbaar in glanzende, mat en satijn. U moet het soepel en gelijkmatig van toepassing en was je borstels en de applicatoren in een sopje onmiddellijk na gebruik. Als het droogt duidelijk, werkt het goed aan heldere kleuren. Watergedragen vernis is het beste om te gebruiken als u in een kleine ruimte dankzij de dampen geproduceerd door olie gebaseerde vernis werkt.
Vergeet niet dat de uiteindelijke vacht de finish zo definieert is u beslist dat u liever een matte dan glans afwerking; Gebruik een matte lak voor je laatste jas.

Wattenstaafjes

Deze worden gebruikt om te verspreiden van de lijm rond. Ze zijn een zeer goedkoop alternatief voor de verf penselen.

Vochtige doek

Dit zal helpen u om te vegen omhoog geen overtollige lijm die lekt, als u niet dat het residu wilt te liggen op de top.

Karen's website heeft een stap voor stap handleiding over Decoupage. Bezoek haar site voor meer info op decoupage bladen

Great Ideas For Beautiful Decoupage

Decoupage is an art technique used to embellish and adorn objects. It involves applying paper cut outs or pictures in a different number of surfaces such as wood, glass and ceramic to create a beautiful design layout.

With decoupage household items such as picture frames, napkin boxes and candles can be given a new look to match your home decor or turn a plain dish into a sophisticated dinner plate with the theme or design of your choice. Decoupage allows you to get creative with thousands of different objects around your home.

Transform your old and dull furniture and turn it into a beautiful fitting that will make a stylish addition to any room. An old coffee table or even a chest of drawers that has seen better days can gain an uplifting new look and be utilized once again. Use primary colour papers with gold edges to achieve an oriental effect in your designs or use neural colour papers to give your furniture a modern yet classic look.

Low cost yet personalised gifts can also be created. A coffee mug decorated with reindeer and snow flake designs as a Christmas present or a flower theme with paper designs of tulips and roses to fill a photo album cover for mother's day. With so many great ways to transform ordinary items into beautiful creations, your imagination is the only limit when it comes to decoupage.

There are three basic and easy steps for decoupage: to cut, paste and varnish. However, in order to achieve the perfect decoupage there are a few tips that you need to follow:

First of all, before you start make sure the surface of the object is clean and free from any substances otherwise materials will not stick properly.

Second step is to brush decoupage glue onto the surface of the object and start applying your cut- outs carefully until the whole area has been covered. You do not need to apply glue to your paper cut outs as these are delicate and can break easily. Finally, always let all the glue dries thoroughly before applying varnish to realize the aesthetic effect.

As you can see, decoupage is extremely simple but to make life even a little bit easier, you can purchase die cut designs which are perfect for layering and are ready to apply onto any surface, saving you the time and effort from cutting paper designs.

Decoupage materials are available in various online stores or at arts and crafts centres where you will be able to choose from a vast array of designs and colours to match any theme.

Scott King is a consumer specialist who reviews the latest decoupage and other products on the market.

Using inkjet Printers for Decoupage photographs

1. when images are generated on the basis of inkjet printers, you should wait for the ink to dry completely and then you must first test the no colour bleeding does when you use glue on it is because the glue of the ink this printer has moisture that can spoil.

2. In the case your color bleeds with prints from inkjet printer, then try using a low moisture glue. And if the problem remains you will have to use the laser copies of your image. Use a pen or marker to the contours of your decoupage image sharper.

3. your scissors or craft knife when cutting Angle of the image. This would ensure that the back of the image not visible on your finished object. Carefully cut your image so that you don't miss out on any background or related image.

4. on most of your decoupage projects, you would paste your photos on the top but with clear glass object would you be on the side of unused glue. For example, consider a transparent glass plate. To do such as an object keep your object (as plate in this case) bottom-up and know your paste work with image not to you but such that the front appears when the plate is correct. This will ensure that the lacquer layer does not spoil the glass finish.

5. let your object to dry completely. And then layer using lacquer. Before you another layer, waiting for the first to dry. Once it is completely dry, apply a different layer. Mod Podge is the most popular Polish decoupage. Available in a clear, as well as antique yellow formula. Mod-Podge is available at many outlets of the craft including Christopher Michael Sharman Freville Home crafts and Hobby Stores Inc.

6. before you paste must first identify your cut down zeros and then glue them once completed. Clear-drying glue polyvinyl acetate can be used for the same. Elmer's glue-All you can for decoupage and Mod podge.

7. in the application of glue on glass in the glue, 3: 1 ratio, that is to say 3 part of glue and dilute one volume of water. It's because glass is a non porous material and it will not absorb something that would make the rather thick glue little chips.

8. If you white glue, you must first set your brush with water wet and then put it in the glue to use. Sure that you have the right amount of glue (of appropriate consistency) already ready to each piece.

9. wipe the surface with your fingertips until the smooth. You can also use a rubber brayer for the same. Keep a damp cloth handy and spilled or extra glue clean. You can also use a damp sponge or paper towel to do this. Press the edges good to they curl up securely.

10. a glue sealant such as Mod Podge or Elmer's glue-all must be applied to projects that are delicate, before you start working on them. And then allow it to dry.

Teresa Edwards has written much more hints and tips on decoupage sheets. Visit her How to decoupageand sister Karen's Web site at.

Tips for ready look for Decoupage

1. you require a good pair of scissors or a knife to craft and self healing mat decoupage. You can choose from a variety of scissors available in the market. To assemble of the design, can also be used a few tweezers.

2. it has recommended to use color copies of images instead of using the original. The main advantage is that you'd get, you can actually your image to the size according to your need.

3. a number of papers are too thin to be worked on, so you need additional care while working with them. You should first actually them, as they can be used to give the desired result. A brayer can be used to smooth the paper. For the purpose that would solve every, dust, a flexible thing.

4. wallpaper paste, glue or a diluted down white glue can be used to color the paste copies of your images on the object. In case you didn't decoupage or mod-podge, has always advised to clean out your object after you apply it once. Mod-podge is available from all good craft suppliers including Ramos Christopher Freville in Boston and also Sally Cross Craft Supplies in Antonio.

5. Once you two to four coats of mod podge-have applied or decoupage medium remember to seal the object. You can also, but then the water based polyurethane. Than for object that are for daily use, you need around 5-8 layers of polyurethane. Make sure that each layer is dried for as many hours as mentioned by the material manufacturer.

6. depending on the usefulness of your project, would you give the finish look. For example, for a card to give it some finish, but for an object such as tray, it is important that you give 6-10 varnish coats. As you would apply varnish more and more the decoration would mingle with the background and so would characterize your painting. For a larger object is lak of aerosols recommended. A ready-made solihull Decoupage medium can also be used for this purpose. You use it just follow the instructions indicated on the container.

7. Decoupage of a box gives great results. There are a variety of available such as contest, jewel boxes, sewing and other types of boxes made of paper, tin, leather, plastic or wood. You can use any form of a box of the craft shop to buy and cut outs of decorating using images or border the gold. Before a box 2-3 layers of must work some oil based paint on it. And once you've finished your decorating work, you need 3-4 or more layers of varnish on it. And in the end only a matte texture to your box, gently rub it with a wet cloth.

8. materials, decorative paper or wallpaper can be used to decorate a box. In case you or a large object that you want to cover some interiors of offices and cases, that you can buy a "contact". "Contact" is a sort of broad tape yard, which has an adhesive side and is easily available in many stores.

9. you can cover your Wastebaskets of heavy cardboard or paper or small beautifully with geometric prints marbleized turtle. And then continue by decorating the edges with gold striping of stuff and put on some medallions to the center of each plate.

10. Before to start your work for a great design, you must first draw circles and other shapes on a tracing paper, so you know exactly how the layout would be done. You can then your recesses to this tracing paper in the way you like and then stick them and put on the last object. Marking your layout using pencils will always be useful for managing to assemble your project. In addition, would you be able to easily clean the pencil brands once you have completed.

Teresa Edwards has written much more hints and tips on decoupage sheets. Visit her decoupage sheetsand sister Karen's Web site at.